(Re)baptism as an act of worship

Posted by gingerbreadnewslady on Aug 28, 2009 in Christian Reflections |

Hello there! If you are new here, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for updates on this topic.

Matthew 28:19-20
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

One might wonder why a child—or an adult for that matter—might be comfortable wearing their swimsuit to church, but for the service I attended recently, it was most appropriate.

It was my church’s annual baptism service, where dozens of people have the opportunity to be baptized in an outdoor pool that is set up just for the occasion. Baptism is of course offered throughout the year, this is just a special time to focus on the ritual and its significance. The lesson focused on how, as a church community, we are called to several corporate functions including worship, communion and baptism.

The evening had special meaning to me, not only as a chance to worship God, but because I’m considering being baptized. To be truly correct, I must say rebaptized. I’ve studied the issue in the Bible, discussed it with my husband, and of course prayed about it. Being rebaptized is something I believe I need to do, not only as an act of worship, but as an outward sign to myself and to others of the new life God has given me (II Corinthians 5:17-21).

Let me backtrack somewhat and explain what I mean by rebaptized. I was baptized, by my own decision and choice, as a child. I was in elementary school and was baptized during a chapel service at my school, which was sponsored by my family’s church. My father performed the service, which was both touching and special. I knew what I was doing then and if I believed baptism to be a salvational issue (which I don’t but that’s not the point), I would say “I’m good.”

Although I understood fully as a child that having Jesus in my heart was a good thing and that he saved me from my sins, I never truly developed a relationship with God as I grew older. My childlike understanding never matured in a healthy way and instead of blossoming in my faith, I ran from it. Sure, I stayed in the church as a teen, but I was filled with guilt for just believing in God and not really having a relationship with him. When I left home during my 20s, I decided I was sick of doing anything out of guilt, pressure or any other negative feeling. I also reacted to some of the painful things that humans do to each other in the name of God—mostly using guilt and religion to influence behavior—and I quit going to church. I figured why fake it any more?

This downward trend continued during most of my 20s until I had a major turnaround, something I will share at another time when it’s more appropriate. Leave it to say that I decided to give the “relationship with God thing” a try. That was nearly three years ago and as I hope others can see, God is working in my life. Even when I fight him, he has a way of working his will in me as I slowly learn that his will is always best (Romans 12:2).

So back to the present.

I strongly feel that although I was baptized as a child, I have a new, different and more mature understanding of God now. I want to be rebaptized into that new relationship, to show that I’m yet again a truly new creature. Because I’ve already been baptized once in a manner I believe to be theologically sound, I see my rebaptism more as an act of worship–not so much as an act of obedience.

I had originally considered having only me, the pastor and my husband present for the baptism as a symbol of several things: my new relationship with God is only about me and God, not about other people; and my understanding of my relationship with God is more like the marriage relationship than the parent/child relationship, which was somewhat represented in my first baptism.

I’m so glad God told me to wait because he’s revealed to me that my thinking was all wrong on both counts. First of all, while I don’t want it to be in front of a bunch of people I don’t know, I believe I should be rebaptized with a small group of believers I consider my brothers and sisters in Christ. Secondly, it really isn’t appropriate to compare my relationship with God to any human relationship. Humans aren’t perfect therefore our relationships with each other will always be flawed. Our relationship with God only has flaws when we ourselves inflict them—he never will. A relationship with God is a unique, special and amazing thing that has no true human comparison.

Now that I feel ready emotionally and spiritually, I’m waiting for the right moment. I know God will work this out, specifically with some of the logistical issues I face.

What a blessing that will be!

(Reference section, both verses are NIV)
II Corinthians 5:17-21
17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Share on Facebook